Rishabh Pant has been appointed captain of Rest of India for the upcoming Irani Cup clash against 2025–26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir. The wicketkeeper-batter’s appointment comes shortly after he was left out of India’s ODI squad for the home series against the West Indies.

Sarfaraz Khan has been named Pant’s deputy for the five-day contest, which will be played from October 1 to 5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar.

The match will mark a historic occasion for Jammu and Kashmir, who won their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025–26 season. They will now face a Rest of India side featuring several leading performers from the previous domestic campaign, along with a number of players who have represented India at the international level. <Cite refs={[“turn0search8″,”turn0search0″,”turn0search2”]}/>

Pant Gets Leadership Opportunity After ODI Omission

Pant’s selection as Rest of India captain comes after he failed to find a place in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series.

India have retained Shubman Gill as ODI captain and included senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad. Dhruv Jurel has been selected as the second wicketkeeper, while KL Rahul remains an important option behind the stumps.

Pant will now shift his focus to red-ball cricket and take charge of a strong Rest of India unit. The Irani Cup will provide him with an opportunity to lead a competitive side and spend valuable time in the middle during the early stages of the domestic season.

His leadership will be closely followed, particularly because the fixture brings together the reigning Ranji Trophy champions and a Rest of India team featuring several players with first-class and international experience.

Sarfaraz Khan Named Vice-Captain

Sarfaraz Khan has been appointed vice-captain and will support Pant during the Irani Cup match.

The batter has been included in a squad that combines experienced campaigners with some of the most productive performers from the previous Ranji Trophy season. His presence adds further depth to the middle order and gives the team another player familiar with the demands of first-class cricket.

Sarfaraz has also represented India in Test cricket and will be expected to contribute both with the bat and through his experience in the dressing room.

The Pant-Sarfaraz leadership combination will be one of the notable features of the Rest of India team as it prepares to face a Jammu and Kashmir side entering the match after the biggest domestic achievement in its history.

Akash Deep Included Subject to Fitness

Fast bowler Akash Deep has been selected for the Rest of India squad, although his participation remains subject to fitness clearance.

The Bengal pacer has been out of action for an extended period because of a lower-back stress injury. His inclusion suggests that he could be close to returning to competitive cricket, provided he receives the necessary medical clearance.

Interestingly, Akash Deep’s last match came against Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy in February 2026. His potential comeback could therefore see him face the same opposition in his first competitive appearance after the injury layoff.

The fast-bowling department also includes Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary and Aryan Pandey. The trio gives Rest of India several options in the pace department, while Akash Deep’s fitness will be monitored closely before the match.

Strong Spin Department Named

The Rest of India squad contains three notable spin options in Anukul Roy, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain.

Suthar and Jain recently featured in India’s Test series against Sri Lanka. Their inclusion brings international experience to the bowling group, while Anukul Roy provides another left-arm spin option and can also contribute with the bat.

The conditions in Srinagar could make the selection of the final playing XI particularly interesting. The team management will have to assess the pitch, weather and workload of the players before deciding how many specialist spinners to include.

The presence of multiple spin options also gives captain Pant tactical flexibility during the five-day contest.

Top Ranji Trophy Run-Scorers Included

The Rest of India squad features R Smaran and Ayush Doseja, who finished as the top two run-scorers in the previous Ranji Trophy season.

Smaran scored 950 runs during the campaign, while Doseja accumulated 949. Their inclusion rewards consistent domestic performances and provides the team with two batters who enter the contest after a productive first-class season.

Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan and Sudip Gharami are the other batting options in the squad. The selection gives Rest of India a combination of established players and domestic performers who have earned recognition through their recent form.

The squad also includes Aryan Juyal as the second wicketkeeper alongside Pant. Juyal’s presence provides an additional option behind the stumps and gives the team flexibility if Pant is required to focus solely on his captaincy and batting responsibilities.

Jammu and Kashmir Prepare for Historic Contest

Jammu and Kashmir qualified for the Irani Cup after winning their first-ever Ranji Trophy title in the 2025–26 season.

Their success marked a major milestone for the region’s cricketing history. The Irani Cup fixture in Srinagar will now give the team an opportunity to test itself against a Rest of India side containing several players with international experience.

Playing at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium will also make the match significant for local supporters. The fixture is expected to attract attention as Jammu and Kashmir begin their title defence campaign in the new domestic season.

For Rest of India, the contest will be an opportunity to challenge the Ranji champions and assess the performances of players who could remain in contention for higher honours during the season.

Also Read-India Announce West Indies Series Squads, Rohit and Kohli Return

Full Rest of India Squad

The 15-member Rest of India squad is:

• Rishabh Pant — captain and wicketkeeper
• Sanat Sangwan
• Shikhar Mohan
• Sudip Gharami
• Sarfaraz Khan — vice-captain
• Smaran Ravichandran
• Manav Suthar
• Saransh Jain
• Akash Deep — subject to fitness
• Mukesh Kumar
• Mukesh Choudhary
• Aryan Juyal — wicketkeeper
• Aryan Pandey
• Anukul Roy
• Ayush Doseja

The squad includes a balance of batters, wicketkeepers, all-rounders, spinners and fast bowlers. The final playing XI will depend on player fitness, pitch conditions and the team’s tactical plans.

Irani Cup Fixture Details

The Irani Cup match between Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India will be played at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar.

Match details:

• Teams: Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India
• Competition: Irani Cup
• Dates: October 1 to 5, 2026
• Venue: Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar
• Rest of India captain: Rishabh Pant
• Rest of India vice-captain: Sarfaraz Khan

The contest is expected to be one of the key fixtures of the opening domestic season, particularly because it features the reigning Ranji Trophy champions against a squad assembled from leading players across Indian domestic cricket.